Proportioning pump



June 16, 1964 J, ISREELI 3,137,241

PROPORTIONING PUMP Filed Jan. 25, 1952 "o lb @Muay/kwin United States Patent 3,137,241 IRPGRTIONING PUMP .lack Israeli, Tuckahoe, N.Y., assignor to Technicon Instruments Corporation, Chauncey, N.Y., a corporation of New Yori;

Filed .Ian.'25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,740 4 Claims. (Cl. 103-149) This invention relates to pumps of the flexible tube t e.

ypOne object of the present invention is the provision of a pump of the type indicated having a platen for supporting the pump tubes in side-by-side relation across the width of the platen with holding means for the pump tubes which enable a larger number of tubes to be provided for the pump than was heretofore possible and without requiring a commensurate increase in the width of the platen.

Another object is the provision of pump tube holding means having groove means extending across the width of the holding means for positioning the pump tubes therein and which includes means that covers the groove means and prevents vertical upward displacement of the tubes from the holding means as a result of the operation of the pump.

A further object is generally to provide a pump of the ilexible tube type with pump tube holding means of improved construction.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which are illustrative of the invention only and are not in limitation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional View of part of a pump in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical view of part of the pump, on a larger scale, taken in the direction of line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical View illustrating another form of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the pump 1) is of the flexible tube type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,935,028 issued May 3, 1960, and, briefly described, comprises a series of resiliently flexible pump tubes 12 for pumping a plurality of fluids in predetermined relative volumes and the tubes are supported in side-by-side relation on a resiliently mounted platen 14 and extend longitudinally thereof. A series of tube compressing rollers 16 are carried by a pair of sprocket chains 18 which move the rollers longitudinally of the tubes for simultaneously compressing them against the platen for the pumping operation.

The pump tubes are held in side-by-side relation on the platen by the holding means Ztl which are positioned at the inlet and outlet ends of the pump tubes, the inlet end of the pump tubes being shown at the right of FIG. 1 and the outlet ends of the pump tubes being shown at the left in FIG. 1 as will be understood from the indicated direction of movement of the sprocket chains 18. The holding means are operable to maintain the pump tubes taut and to prevent longitudinal movement of the tubes in either direction during the operation of the pump. Moreover, the holding means include provision for preventing vertical upward movement of the pump tubes so that they cannot be displaced from the holding means during the operation of the pump.

In accordance with the invention, the holding means has provision for holding the inlet and outlet ends of the pump tubes in vertically spaced relation so that the tubes can be arranged on the platen 14 across the width thereof in very close side-by-side relation adjacent each other and even touching each other, whereby the entire surface of the platen can be utilized for supporting the pump tubes and a large number of tubes can be provided without increasing the width of the platen. larly, each holding means comprises a member 22 which extends across the width of the platen, transversely of the pump tubes, and is removably supported on the platen, at theinlet and outlet ends of the tubes, by a pin 24 which extends upwardly from the platen into any one of the mounting holes 26 that are longitudinally spaced from each other along each end of member 22. A plurality of holes is provided so that the position of member 22 can be adjusted longitudinally of the tubes.

A series of open top longitudinally extending grooves 28 are provided along the upper part of member 22 and are arranged in side-by-side relation transversely of the member across its width. Another series of longitudinally extending grooves 30 are positioned below grooves 2S, in overlapping relation therewith, and are arranged in side-by-side relation transversely of the member across its width. The grooves are parallel to each other and extend longitudinally of the pump tubes 12 so that the tubes can be positioned in the grooves. Each groove is separated from its adjacent groove by a part 32 and each of said parts has an extension 34. The extensions for the upper and lower series of grooves are vertically spaced from each other to form a recess 36 which extends transversely of the member 22 along the outer side edge thereof. Preferably the upper series of grooves 28 have widths which are greater than the widths of the lower grooves 30 so that pump tubes of larger diameters can be positioned in grooves 28 and pump tubes of smaller diameters can be positioned in grooves 30. Grooves 30 are laterally offset from adjacent grooves 28.

The pump tubes are provided With suitably secured collars 38 which engage portions of the groove dividing parts 32 to prevent the longitudinal movement of the pump tubes in the companion grooves and in this regard it will be noted that holding member 22 at the inlet end ofthe pump tubes prevents longitudinal movement of the tubes to the left, as viewed in FIG. l, and the member 22 at the outlet ends of the pump tubes prevents longitudinal movement of the tubes to the right,as viewed in FIG. 1, whereby longitudinal movement of the pump tubes in both directions is prevented. Vertical upward movement of the pump tubes which are positioned in the upper row of grooves is prevented by engagement of the collars 38 with the extensions`34 and downward vertical movement of the pump tubes in the lower row of grooves is also prevented by engagementl of the collars with the extensions 34 of the lower row of grooves. Upward vertical movement of the tubes in grooves 30 is prevented by part 39 which extends across the tops of grooves 3i) and covers them. In this manner the tubes cannot be More particuj n E vertically displaced from their positions in the grooves of the holding means because of the operation ot the Another member 44 is removably mounted on top of member di) and has a co-rnating groove 46 which is open along the bottom of the member-and extends transversely thereof in registry with groove 42 to form a continuous groove that extends across the width of the member. Members di) and 44 are releasably secured to each other by screws 48 and are mounted at each end of the platen by the pins 24 which extend through a mounting hole 26 which is provided in each member at each end thereof. The mounting hole extends through the ends of groove 47 and assists in registering grooves d2 and 46 with each other.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the inletend of the pump tube -12 is provided with a tube connecting nippleV 50 which expands the end of the pump tube so that it is larger than the height of groove 47 of holding member Z0'. It will be understood that the outlet ends ofthe pump tubes are similarly provided with a nipple Si) to enlarge said outlet end and thereby longitudinal movement of the pump tubes in both directions is prevented. Also, it will be understood that the enlarged portions of the pump tubes may be provided by collars 38 in lieu of nipples 50 and that collars or nipples may be used for the pump tubes in holders Ztl and Ztl. Nipples 50 are especially useful since they provide a convenient means for connecting another tube to the pump tube.

With holding member the inlet and outlet ends of the tubes are arranged in side-by-side relation in the same horizontal plane in continuous groove 47 and adjacent tubes can be arranged very close' to each other since no space is occupied or required for dividing members that were utilized heretofore Ito provide a series of separate grooves. Vertical upward movement oi the pump tubes is prevented because of member Lid which overlies the adjacent portions of the pump tubes.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made Without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A pump, comprising:

(a) a plurality of resiliently flexible tubes and a platen for supporting said tubes positioned on said platen in side-by-side relation,

(b) means operable in cooperation with said platen and movable progressively along the lengths of said tubes for simultaneously compressing them for the pumpi ing operations,

(c) means spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said tubes for holding said tubes in position on said platen,

(d) each of said holding means comprising a member having an intermediate part and a series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation above said intermediate part for positioning some of said tubes therein, and

(e) each of said members having another series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned below said intermediate part and positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation for positioning others of said tubes therein.

2. A pump, comprising:

(a) a series of resiliently flexible pump tubes,

(b) a platen for supporting said series of pump tubes in side-by-side relation,

(c) means operable in cooperation with said platen and movable progressively along the lengths of said tubes for simultaneously compressing them for the pumping operations,

(d) means spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said tubes for holding said tubes in position on said platen,

(e) each of said holding means comprising a member having an intermediate part and a series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation above said intermediate part for positioning some of said tubes therein, and

(f) each of said members having another series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned below said intermediate part and said irst mentioned series of grooves and positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation for positioning others of said tubes therein,

(g) said pump tubes each having enlarged portions adjacent each of said holding members, and

(h) each of said holding members having parts engageable with said enlarged portions of said pump tubes to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in either direction on said platen.

3. A pump, comprising:

(a) a series of resiliently flexible pump tubes,

(b) a platen for supporting said series of pump tubes in side-by-side relation,

(c) means operable in cooperation with said platen and movable progressively along the lengths of said tubes for simultaneously compressing them for the pumping operations, Y

(d) means spaced from each otherin the longitudinal direction of said tubes for holding said tubes in position on said platen,

(e) each of said holding means comprising a member having an intermediate part and a series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned laterally of each other in side-by-siderelation above said intermediate part for positioning some of said tubes therein, and

() each of said members having another series of longitudinally extending grooves positioned below said tirst mentioned series of grooves and positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation positioning others of said tubes therein, the grooves of said last mentioned series being offset laterally from the grooves of said first mentioned series,

(g) said pump tubes each having enlarged portions adjacent each of said holding members,

(h) each of said holding members having parts engageable with said enlarged portions of said pump tubes to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in either direction on said platen, and

(i) each of said holding members having other parts engageable with said enlarged portions of said pump tubes to prevent-said tubes from moving out of its corresponding groove.

4. A pump, comprising:

(a) a plurality of resiliently flexible pump tubes and a platen for supporting said pump tubes positioned on said platen in side-by-side relation,

(b) means operable in cooperation with said platen and movable progressively along the lengths of said tubes for simultaneously compressing them for the pumping operations, and

said first mentioned series of grooves and positioned laterally of each other in side-by-side relation tubes for positioning others of said tubes therein,

(f) said other series of grooves being laterally offset from the adjacent upper series of grooves.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Owens Mar. l, 1932 Jones Nov. 9, 1943 Schultz Jan. 26, 1960 Ferrari et al. May 3, 1960 

1. A PUMP, COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE TUBES AND A PLATEN FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUBES POSITIONED ON SAID PLATEN IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, (B) MEANS OPERABLE IN COOPERATION WITH SAID PLATEN AND MOVABLE PROGRESSIVELY ALONG THE LENGTHS OF SAID TUBES FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPRESSING THEM FOR THE PUMPING OPERATIONS, (C) MEANS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID TUBES FOR HOLDING SAID TUBES IN POSITION ON SAID PLATEN, (D) EACH OF SAID HOLDING MEANS COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PART AND A SERIES OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES POSITIONED LATERALLY OF EACH OTHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION ABOVE SAID INTERMEDIATE PART FOR POSITIONING SOME OF SAID TUBES THEREIN, AND (E) EACH OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING ANOTHER SERIES OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES POSITIONED BELOW SAID INTERMEDIATE PART AND POSITIONED LATERALLY OF EACH OTHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION FOR POSITIONING OTHERS OF SAID TUBES THEREIN. 